Now on its third year, the first open water marathon swimming in the country, dubbed the Olango Challenge, kicked off last April 24 at the Tambuli Beach Club, Lapu-Lapu City.
For the past two years, the Olango Challenge has drawn over a hundred professional and amateur swimmers, highlighting the importance of having clean marine environments and the promotion of swimming as a sport. The proceeds of these past competitions were used for the construction of classrooms at the Candagsao Elementary School in Olango, turned over to the school only last March 11.
This year’s event, which also served as a fund-raising activity, targeted to raise at least Php1.2 million on its third run and shoulder some livelihood and government projects in Olango Island. Attracting swimmers from all over the country and even the United States and Japan, the Olango Challenge was organized by the Philippines Business for Social Progress (PBSP) in the Visayas and the Philippine Aquatic Sports Association.
Among the major sponsors of the Olango Challenge included Milo and the Department of Tourism. Pilipinas Shell, Aboitiz Foundation, and Timex were also sponsors for whole-day swimming challenge. (For a complete list of sponsors, please view http://olangochallenge.wordpress.com/sponsorspartners/.)
This year, cash prizes of Php3000–Php10000 were put up for grabs for four different categories: 5K competitive, 2.5K competitive, 1.5 competitive, and 5K Fun Swim. The complete list of winners is as follows:
1.5K Competitive Male Category
1st – Rey Suerte (30:44:56), Team Imperial Palace
2nd – Alexander Echavez (30:59:91), University of San Carlos
3rd – Philomer Rubio (35:07:99), Team Imperial Palace
1.5K Competitive Female Category
1st – Alali Ada Villocino (42:25:90), Team Ihk
2nd – Mary Grace Ventic (1:06:52:79), Unattached
2.5K Competitive Male Category
1st – Jason Ong (38:14:80), Team Imperial Palace
2nd – Marcial Hermoso (44:26:69), Team Imperial Palace
3rd – Charles Fletcher (45:21:33), Curl-Burke Masters
2.5K Competitive Female Category
1st – Lorhiz Echaves (37:58:94), University of San Carlos
2nd – Frijie Laude (49:21:85), Team Shangri-la
5K Competitive Male Category
1st – Nikita Dacera (56:21:46), Dadiangastorpedoes Swim Club
2nd – Kiefer Ticao (56:56:06), PCEAS
3rd – Noel Caneda (:08:05:09), Cebu Blue Marlin Swim Club
5K Competitive Female Category
1st – Erika Lukang (1:04:38:46), PCEAS
2nd – Loren Dale Echavez (1:05:20:72), University of San Carlos
3rd – Paul Abigail Vega (1:08:11:85), Cebu Blue Marlin Swim Club
5K Fun Male Category
1st – Franz Baguio (1:09:51:14), Unattached
2nd – Rico Enriquez (1:10:34:48), Team Imperial Palace
3rd – Yoshimitsu Tadauchi (1:13:36), Unattached
Please visit http://olangochallenge.wordpress.com/ for a post-event coverage of the Olango Challenge, or contact Ms. Riva Valles at (032) 232-5270 or (032) 232-5283. You may also send an email to
0 comments:
Post a Comment